Let’s Open a Video Store

So two completely random things put this episode into motion this week.

First, my wife and I, we went up to Halifax, Nova Scotia recently, and while we were there, I ran into my brother from another mother, my best friend from back in Tampa growing up.

Uh, when did I meet him? Eighth grade? Haven't seen this guy in years, like three, four years.

So, you know, we're standing there in Nova Scotia laughing about hot, hot dog buns and talking about, you know, uh, my, my other friend's dad, you know, some inside stuff, and remembering just how much, you know, the three of us, myself, Nick, who I seen in Nova Scotia, and our other friend James, the three of us used to annoy the, uh, the absolute hell out of my, my parents and, and their, [chuckles] their parents.

Then, you know, I get back home, and I walk into, you know, the, the living room here.

My oldest, Zach, sitting there on the couch watching, uh, uh, what's the guy's name? JackSepticEye? I don't know.

He was doing a video where he's playing a, a simulator game about running a video rental store.

And I don't know, something clicked.

The brain wires crossed.

I, uh, don't question how my mind works.

Just, just roll with it, all right? Now, uh, look, I, I know I'm, I'm gonna romanticize all of this a little bit.

I get it.

The video store was also a place where you drove 15 minutes in the rain only to discover that every single copy of the movie you wanted was already checked out.

All of them, empty.

Just empty shelves staring back at you.

I miss it anyway.

I really do.

Is that a, I don't know, a rational, coherent position? Probably not.

And, um, uh, yeah, I won't pretend that it is.

Because man, Friday nights back then, you knew what Friday night was going to be.

Somebody hit the fast food drive-through, maybe a Little Caesars.

Somebody went to the rental store, and going to the store, that wasn't an errand.

That was the event.

The negotiation started the second you got in that car and the door shut.

In my house, the rule was you get two movies and a video game.

So two completely random things put this episode into motion this week.

First, my wife and I, we went up to Halifax, Nova Scotia recently, and while we were there, I ran into my brother from another mother, my best friend from back in Tampa growing up.

Uh, when did I meet him? Eighth grade? Haven't seen this guy in years, like three, four years.

So, you know, we're standing there in Nova Scotia laughing about hot, hot dog buns and talking about, you know, uh, my, my other friend's dad, you know, some inside stuff, and remembering just how much, you know, the three of us, myself, Nick, who I seen in Nova Scotia, and our other friend James, the three of us used to annoy the, uh, the absolute hell out of my, my parents and, and their, [chuckles] their parents.

Then, you know, I get back home, and I walk into, you know, the, the living room here.

My oldest, Zach, sitting there on the couch watching, uh, uh, what's the guy's name? JackSepticEye? I don't know.

He was doing a video where he's playing a, a simulator game about running a video rental store.

And I don't know, something clicked.

The brain wires crossed.

I, uh, don't question how my mind works.

Just, just roll with it, all right? Now, uh, look, I, I know I'm, I'm gonna romanticize all of this a little bit.

I get it.

The video store was also a place where you drove 15 minutes in the rain only to discover that every single copy of the movie you wanted was already checked out.

All of them, empty.

Just empty shelves staring back at you.

I miss it anyway.

I really do.

Is that a, I don't know, a rational, coherent position? Probably not.

And, um, uh, yeah, I won't pretend that it is.

Because man, Friday nights back then, you knew what Friday night was going to be.

Somebody hit the fast food drive-through, maybe a Little Caesars.

Somebody went to the rental store, and going to the store, that wasn't an errand.

That was the event.

The negotiation started the second you got in that car and the door shut.

In my house, the rule was you get two movies and a video game.